City Wire, February 3, 2014 Wal-Mart has plenty of fans and critics when it comes to the retailer’s sustainability initiatives. When former CEO Lee Scott boldly announced the retailer’s sustainability platform eight years ago, there were doubters that Wal-Mart would stay the course. While the journey to a Green Wal-Mart is a long one, there is … Read More
BoingBoing.net, January 31, 2014 When Kansas lawmakers tabled a bill outlawing municipal broadband network, there was no sponsor’s name on it: rumor has it that’s because it was written by a lobbyist called John Federico, who is president of Kansas Cable Telecommunications Association. The bill masquerades as a pro-competition measure (pro-competition initiatives from the cable industry! … Read More
Daily Kos, January 30, 2014 The State of Kansas could often be said to be one of those places where torturing your residents just makes sense. While the work against women, children, the disabled, schools and others continues, the state of Kansas Legislatures took on a new target: Stop Google Fiber. And not just google fiber, … Read More
Shreveport Times, January 30, 2014 After more than 20 years in business, another neighborhood restaurant will close its doors Friday. Cafe Pierremont, known for its fresh vegetables and daily lunch specials, joins the handful of local restaurants that have closed in the past few months. “It’s time to turn the page,” said owner Barbara Landman, who … Read More
Allentown Morning Call, January 24, 2014 As the largest banks in the country lose market share in the residential lending sector, small community banks are picking up the slack. According to some experts, that’s good for the economy and the homebuyer. The largest mortgage lenders, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase have slashed residential lending. At Wells … Read More
Government Technology, January 17, 2014 Many open Internet advocates were disheartened at a recent U.S. Court of Appeals decision that shot down the FCC’s net neutrality rule. But for those in favor of local government-owned broadband networks, the ruling may have something in it to cheer about. Circuit Judge Laurence Silberman, dissenting from part of the … Read More
The Nation, January 8, 2014 When Superstorm Sandy churned up fourteen-foot walls of water that slammed New York’s coastal communities in October 2012, they also washed away any false notions we had that we care sufficiently for poor people. One year later, Bill de Blasio was the candidate to beat to lead the city. He pulled … Read More
Time Magazine, January 6, 2014 Alaska state officials are hosting Walmart executives in the state capital this week in an effort to resolve a months-old dispute over Alaskan salmon fisheries’ sustainability credentials. The seeds of the quarrel were planted in 2012 when several Alaskan fisheries decided to end their relationship with the Marine Stewardship Council–the preeminent … Read More
Gothamist, January 5, 2014 There’s no denying that Mayor Bloomberg dramatically changed the landscape of NYC through bike lanes, new buildings construction, and rezoning. In some ways—like with improved and increased street space—this has been a very good thing. But in other ways—like the homelessness epidemic and with the loss of affordable housing to taxpayer subsidized … Read More
